Graham County, Arizona

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Graham County
GrahamCountyCourthouse.jpg
Graham County Courthouse in Safford
Map of Arizona highlighting Graham County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Arizona
Arizona in United States.svg
Arizona's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°02′N109°47′W / 33.04°N 109.78°W / 33.04; -109.78
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Arizona.svg  Arizona
FoundedMarch 10, 1881
Named for Mount Graham
Seat Safford
Largest citySafford
Area
  Total4,641 sq mi (12,020 km2)
  Land4,623 sq mi (11,970 km2)
  Water19 sq mi (50 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
  Total38,533
  Estimate 
(2023)
39,525 Increase2.svg
  Density8.3/sq mi (3.2/km2)
Time zone UTC−7 (Mountain)
Congressional districts 2nd, 6th
Websitewww.graham.az.gov
The Large Binocular Telescope on the summit ridge of the Pinaleno Mountains, Graham County LBT Pinaleno Mountains.40936.JPG
The Large Binocular Telescope on the summit ridge of the Pinaleno Mountains, Graham County

Graham County is a county in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2020 census, the population was 38,533, [1] making it the third-least populous county in Arizona. The county seat is Safford. [2]

Contents

Graham County composes the Safford, Arizona Micropolitan Statistical Area.

The county is home to several organizations including Eastern Arizona College and the Mount Graham International Observatory, which includes one of the world's largest and most powerful telescopes. Graham County is also home to the Arizona Salsa Trail and the annual Salsa Fest. [3]

Graham County contains part of the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation.

History

Joseph Knight Rogers, an early settler in the area, and a member of the Arizona Territorial Legislature, is known as the father of Graham County: he introduced the bill in the territorial legislature creating it. [4] The new county was created from southern Apache County and eastern Pima County on March 10, 1881. [5] Initially, the county seat was located in the city of Safford but was later moved to Solomonville in 1883. This change was undone in 1915, returning the county seat to Safford. [6]

Graham County is named after the mountain of the same name which was, in turn, named after Lt. Col James Duncan Graham. The county was the first in Arizona to break the tradition of naming counties for Native Americans.[ citation needed ]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,641 square miles (12,020 km2), of which 4,623 square miles (11,970 km2) is land and 19 square miles (49 km2) (0.4%) is water. [7] The county has various mountain peaks including Mount Graham, which is the highest mountain in the Pinaleno Mountains.

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1890 5,670
1900 14,162149.8%
1910 23,99969.5%
1920 10,148−57.7%
1930 10,3732.2%
1940 12,11316.8%
1950 12,9857.2%
1960 14,0458.2%
1970 16,57818.0%
1980 22,86237.9%
1990 26,55416.1%
2000 33,48926.1%
2010 37,22011.1%
2020 38,5333.5%
2023 (est.)39,525 [8] 2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [9]
1790–1960 [10] 1900–1990 [11]
1990–2000 [12] 2010–2020 [1]
Roper Lake, south of Safford Roper1-kmf.JPG
Roper Lake, south of Safford

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 33,489 people, 10,116 households, and 7,617 families living in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile (2.7 people/km2). There were 11,430 housing units at an average density of 2 units per square mile (0.77 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 67.1% White, 1.9% Black or African American, 15.0% Native American, 0.6% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 13.4% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. 27.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.4% reported speaking Spanish at home, while 6.4% speak a Southern Athabaskan language. [13]

There were 10,116 households, out of which 39.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.47.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 30.1% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.1 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,668, and the median income for a family was $34,417. Males had a median income of $30,524 versus $20,739 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,139. About 17.7% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.2% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 37,220 people, 11,120 households, and 8,188 families living in the county. [14] The population density was 8.1 inhabitants per square mile (3.1 inhabitants/km2). There were 12,980 housing units at an average density of 2.8 units per square mile (1.1 units/km2). [15] The racial makeup of the county was 72.1% white, 14.4% American Indian, 1.8% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 8.2% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 30.4% of the population. [14] In terms of ancestry, 16.1% were English, 9.2% were German, 6.9% were Irish, and 4.3% were American. [16]

Of the 11,120 households, 41.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 26.4% were non-families, and 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.50. The median age was 31.6 years. [14]

The median income for a household in the county was $41,683 and the median income for a family was $48,005. Males had a median income of $41,732 versus $25,990 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,644. About 15.9% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.3% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over. [17]

Politics

In its early days Graham County was a solidly Democratic county. It voted for the Democratic nominee in every presidential election from 1912 to 1952, being one of only four Western counties outside New Mexico to support James M. Cox in 1920, and one of only five to support John W. Davis in 1924. Since the 1950s, however, Graham has become a reliable Republican county, usually rivaling Mohave and Yavapai as the most Republican in Arizona, and sometimes, as in 2004 and 2000, being the “reddest” of all the state's counties. No Democratic presidential nominee has carried Graham County since Lyndon B. Johnson – against Arizona native Barry Goldwater – did so in 1964, though Bill Clinton, who carried significant national rural appeal as a Democrat in the 1990s, came close in 1996.[ citation needed ]

United States presidential election results for Graham County, Arizona [18] [19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
2020 10,74971.52%4,03426.84%2461.64%
2016 8,02565.34%3,30126.88%9557.78%
2012 8,07667.84%3,60930.31%2201.85%
2008 8,37669.40%3,48728.89%2061.71%
2004 7,46769.65%3,18529.71%680.63%
2000 6,00762.16%3,35534.72%3023.13%
1996 4,22245.42%3,93842.36%1,13612.22%
1992 4,16942.98%3,39134.96%2,13922.05%
1988 5,12059.18%3,40739.38%1251.44%
1984 5,24762.35%3,08036.60%891.06%
1980 4,76559.85%2,80135.18%3954.96%
1976 3,65952.59%3,05043.83%2493.58%
1972 3,57560.15%1,86331.35%5058.50%
1968 2,32747.21%1,72635.02%87617.77%
1964 2,65548.82%2,78351.18%00.00%
1960 2,49154.35%2,09145.63%10.02%
1956 2,38458.55%1,68841.45%00.00%
1952 2,19149.90%2,20050.10%00.00%
1948 1,20935.71%2,13963.17%381.12%
1944 1,15132.43%2,39367.43%50.14%
1940 1,16126.94%3,13072.62%190.44%
1936 68015.54%3,54180.94%1543.52%
1932 71819.81%2,86779.09%401.10%
1928 1,23843.27%1,61556.45%80.28%
1924 81333.17%1,25251.08%38615.75%
1920 1,06245.72%1,26154.28%00.00%
1916 49722.02%1,59770.76%1637.22%
1912 1039.74%54051.09%41439.17%

Communities

Locations of incorporated and unincorporated areas as well as Indian reservations in Graham County Graham County Incorporated and Unincorporated areas.svg
Locations of incorporated and unincorporated areas as well as Indian reservations in Graham County

City

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Linarite specimen from the old Grand Reef mine near Klondyke Linarite-290594.jpg
Linarite specimen from the old Grand Reef mine near Klondyke

Ghost towns

Indian communities

County population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Graham County. [20] [21]

county seat

RankCity/Town/etc.Population (2010 Census)Municipal typeIncorporated
1Safford 9,566City
2 Thatcher 4,865Town
3 Swift Trail Junction 2,935 CDP
4 Pima 2,387Town
5 Bylas 1,962CDP
6 Cactus Flats 1,518CDP
7 Peridot (Partially in Gila County )1,350CDP
8 Central 645CDP
9 San Jose 506CDP
10 Solomon 426CDP
11 Fort Thomas 374CDP
12 Bryce 175CDP

Notable people

See also

Related Research Articles

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Swift Trail Junction is a census-designated place (CDP) in Graham County, Arizona, United States. The population was 2,935 at the 2010 census, up from 2,195 in 2000. It is part of the Safford Micropolitan Statistical Area. It is situated at the junction of U.S. Route 191 and State Route 366. The Swift Trail Parkway is a scenic highway that winds through the Coronado National Forest and provides access to the higher elevations of the Pinaleño Mountains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thatcher, Arizona</span> Town in Graham County, Arizona

Thatcher is a town in Graham County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the town is 4,865. It is part of the Safford Micropolitan Statistical Area.

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